ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

World record solar cell with 44.7% efficiency

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:42 PM PDT

Researchers in Germany report a new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells. A new record efficiency of 44.7% was measured at a concentration of 297 suns, indicating that 44.7% of the solar spectrum's energy, from ultraviolet through to the infrared, is converted into electrical energy. The achievement is being hailed as a major step towards reducing the costs of solar electricity.

Alzheimer's progression tracked prior to dementia

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:03 PM PDT

Important progress has been made on the challenge of identifying and tracking preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Scientists show that markers for preclinical disease can help predict the start of dementia.

Enormous catalog of more than 300,000 nearby galaxies

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:03 PM PDT

More than 83,000 volunteer citizen scientists. Over 16 million galaxy classifications. Information on more than 300,000 galaxies. This is what you get when you ask the public for help in learning more about our universe.

Men with type 1 diabetes are better at blood sugar control than women

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:03 PM PDT

Men with type 1 diabetes appear to be better at blood sugar control than women, but there is no significant difference in blood sugar control between boys and girls.

New recommendations for treating obstructive sleep apnea

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:03 PM PDT

People diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea should lose weight and use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as initial therapy, according to new recommendations from the American College of Physicians.

Ethnic disparities exist in ER pain management for children with abdominal pain

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:01 PM PDT

Pediatric researchers have found race- and ethnicity-based disparities in pain management and length of stay among children who came to hospital emergency departments for treatment of abdominal pain.

Woman finds relief from pelvic pain after nearly two decades

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:01 PM PDT

Anne Mosley developed intense pelvic pain while she was pregnant with her youngest child 17 years ago. The pain was caused by a grape-sized pocket of fluid on her urethra, which became infected.

Reassurance for mothers who have influenza vaccine while pregnant

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:59 PM PDT

Researchers have found evidence of the H1N1 influenza vaccine's safety during pregnancy. .

Spinning CDs to clean sewage water

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:59 PM PDT

Audio CDs, all the rage in the '90s, seem increasingly obsolete in a world of MP3 files and iPods, leaving many music lovers with the question of what to do with their extensive compact disk collections. While you could turn your old disks into a work of avant-garde art, researchers in Taiwan have come up with a more practical application: breaking down sewage.

Gun retailers strongly support expanded criteria for denying gun purchases, survey finds

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:59 PM PDT

A scientific survey of gun dealers and pawnbrokers in 43 US states has found nearly unanimous support for denying gun purchases based on prior convictions and for serious mental illness with a history of violence or alcohol or drug abuse -- conditions that might have prevented Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis from legally purchasing a firearm.

Theory and formula to improve 'plastic' semiconductors developed

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:55 PM PDT

We could find many uses for bendable electronics, such as e-readers that folded like newspapers or smart phones that curved in our back pockets. Polymer semiconductors could get us there. But their electrical properties are not well understood. In some novel work scientists explain how the structure of polymers affects their electrical properties with an eye toward improving their performance as electronic components.

Global warming is likely to increase severe thunderstorm conditions in U.S., research finds

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:55 PM PDT

Severe thunderstorms, often exhibiting destructive rainfall, hail and tornadoes, are one of the primary causes of catastrophic losses in the United States. New climate models suggest a robust increase in these types of storms across the country.

Wind and rain belts to shift north as planet warms: Redistribution of rainfall could make Middle East, Western US and Amazonia drier

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:55 PM PDT

As humans continue to heat the planet, a northward shift of Earth's wind and rain belts could make a broad swath of regions drier, including the Middle East, American West and Amazonia, while making Monsoon Asia and equatorial Africa wetter, says a new study.

Math explains history: Simulation accurately captures the evolution of ancient complex societies

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:55 PM PDT

The question of how human societies evolve from small groups to the huge, anonymous and complex societies of today has been answered mathematically, accurately matching the historical record on the emergence of complex states in the ancient world.

The inefficient acquisition: Research gives new reason why some companies overpay for merger targets

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:53 PM PDT

Sometimes, companies know they're paying too much for another company, and a researcher says they have a good reason for doing it anyway.

Pedestrians, cyclists need consistency at rail crossings

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:53 PM PDT

The risk of pedestrian and bicycle accidents at railroad grade crossings would decrease with sustained enforcement and education by local governments, along with consistency in design standards for warning devices.

Extended daily eye patching effective at treating stubborn amblyopia in children

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:53 PM PDT

A recent report by the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigators Group (PEDIG) provides evidence that increasing patching from two to six hours a day is effective at treating persistent amblyopia. The research was funded by the National Eye Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health.

Siberian hamsters show what helps make seasonal clocks tick

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 12:53 PM PDT

Many animals, including humans, have internal clocks and calendars to help them regulate behavior, physiological functions and biological processes. Although scientists have extensively studied the timekeeping mechanisms that inform daily functions (circadian rhythms), they know very little about the timekeeping mechanisms that inform seasonal functions.

Stretchable, foldable transparent electronic display created

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:37 AM PDT

Imagine an electronic display nearly as clear as a window, or a curtain that illuminates a room, or a smartphone screen that doubles in size, stretching like rubber. Now imagine all of these being made from the same material. Researchers have developed a transparent, elastic organic light-emitting device, or OLED, that could one day make all these possible.

Headway towards quantum information transfer via nanomechanical coupling

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:37 AM PDT

Fiber optics has made communication faster than ever, but the next step involves a quantum leap –– literally. In order to improve the security of the transfer of information, scientists are working on how to translate electrical quantum states to optical quantum states in a way that would enable ultrafast, quantum-encrypted communications.

Whale earwax used to determine contaminant exposure in whales

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:36 AM PDT

A novel technique has been developed for reconstructing contaminant and hormone profiles using whale earplugs to determine, for the first time, lifetime chemical exposures and hormone profiles, from birth to death, for an individual whale. This information has not been previously attainable.

No association between frequency of marijuana use and health or healthcare utilization

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:36 AM PDT

Researchers have found frequency of marijuana use was not significantly associated with health services utilization or health status.

Protecting specific area of the brain during radiation therapy substantially reduces memory loss

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:36 AM PDT

Protecting the stem cells that reside in and around the hippocampus -- a C-shaped area in the temporal lobe on both sides of the brain associated with the ability to form and store memories -- substantially reduces the rate of cancer patients' memory loss during whole-brain radiotherapy without a significant risk of recurrence in that area of the brain, a new study shows.

Pesticide regulation in California is flawed

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:36 AM PDT

In at least one case, the California system for approving a pesticide for use on crops failed by approving a chemical called methyl iodide for use on strawberries. Methyl iodide is a neurotoxicant and is carcinogenic. It is also a developmental toxicant, impairing fetal development and causing fetal death, at low doses.

Non-precious metal catalysts outperforming Pt-based one

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:36 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a new family of non-precious metal catalysts. These catalysts exhibit better performance than platinum in oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) only with 10% of the production cost of a platinum catalyst.

Researchers discover a new way that influenza can infect cells

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

Scientists have uncovered a new mechanism by which influenza can infect cells – a finding that ultimately may have implications for immunity against the flu.

Data from across globe defines distinct Kawasaki disease season

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

After more than four decades of research, strong evidence now shows that Kawasaki disease has a distinct seasonal occurrence shared by regions across the Northern hemisphere.

Fossil record shows crustaceans vulnerable as modern coral reefs decline

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

Many ancient crustaceans went extinct following a massive collapse of reefs across the planet, and new research suggests modern species living in rapidly declining reef habitats may now be at risk.

Modifying rice crops to resist herbicide prompts weedy neighbors' growth spurt

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

Rice containing an overactive gene that makes it resistant to a common herbicide can pass that genetic trait to weedy rice, prompting powerful growth even without a weed-killer to trigger the modification benefit, new research shows.

Human brain tumor cells erased in mice

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

Working with mice, researchers have discovered that weeks of treatment with a repurposed FDA-approved drug halted the growth of -- and ultimately left no detectable trace of -- brain tumor cells taken from adult human patients.

Preoperative blood typing may not be needed for some pediatric surgeries

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

Certain pediatric surgeries carry such low risk of serious blood loss that clinicians can safely forgo expensive blood typing and blood stocking before such procedures, suggest the results of a small study.

Retail investment: A barometer for teen obesity?

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:40 AM PDT

When it comes to addressing the obesity epidemic, fast food restaurants are a favorite target with some communities going so far as to ban the construction of new, stand-alone fast food restaurants. But according to a recent study, communities contemplating such bans may want to look beyond the number of fast food outlets to the greater retail environment of each neighborhood.

Sibling bullying: What's the big deal?

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:40 AM PDT

Sibling bullying is a type of violence that is prevalent in the lives of most children, but little is known about it. Researchers say the phenomenon has been overlooked.

Booster dose of new meningitis vaccine may be beneficial

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:40 AM PDT

A study of 4CMenB, a new vaccine to protect against meningitis B bacteria (which can cause potentially fatal bacterial meningitis in children), shows that waning immunity induced by infant vaccination can be overcome by a booster dose at 40 months of age.

Identifying trauma risk in small children early after an accident

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:39 AM PDT

Small children also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders after a serious accident. With the aid of a new test, children with an increased risk can already be identified in the space of a few days. The test helps to treat traumatized small children at an early stage.

First look at complete sorghum genome may usher in new uses for food and fuel

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:39 AM PDT

Although sorghum lines underwent adaptation to be grown in temperate climates decades ago, a researcher said he and his team have completed the first comprehensive genomic analysis of the molecular changes behind that adaptation.

A personal trainer for your brain

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:38 AM PDT

Using the neighborhood gym as a model, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's new Brain Fit Club offers members a way to support brain health by devising personalized workout routines designed to keep each member's brain limber and active.

Long-term hormonal therapy in prostate cancer patients does not improve overall survival

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:38 AM PDT

A secondary analysis of the historic RTOG 9202 prostate cancer trial examined results of men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer who had received long-term hormonal therapy after radiation therapy, and concluded that there were no additional benefits when compared to short-term hormonal therapy.

First direct measurement of spinal cord myelin in multiple sclerosis

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:38 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a novel molecular probe detectable by PET imaging. The new molecular marker, MeDAS, offers the first non-invasive visualization of myelin integrity of the entire spinal cord at the same time.

Are patients making cost-effective treatment decisions?

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:38 AM PDT

A new commentary says that involving patients in decisions about their medical treatment will not likely lead to cost savings or less overtreatment.

More archeological treasures found in Southern Turkey: Statue head of goddess Aphrodite, mosaic temple floor, more evidence of Roman influence

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 09:38 AM PDT

Shoveling and sweeping to expose still-hidden portions of a 1,600-square-foot marble mosaic that dates to Roman times, an archeological team this past summer unearthed a new treasure in southern Turkey. Lying face down in more than a millennium of soil was a life-size marble head, the remnant of a sculpture of the goddess Aphrodite – still beautiful, though scarred by chips on its nose and face.

Putting the spring back in broken hearts

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:42 AM PDT

For years, scientists have been trying to engineer cardiac tissue to patch up areas of the heart damaged by heart attacks. Now Tel Aviv University researchers have fabricated fibers shaped like springs that allow engineered cardiac tissue to pump more like the real thing. They say that, once tested in clinical trials, the use of these fibers will improve and prolong the lives of millions of people.

The fish and the egg: Towards a new strategy for fattening up red drum in Texas

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Are red drum fish "capital" or "income" breeders? The answer has significant economic and environmental consequences for how the state of Texas manages its breeding of the popular game fish.

It takes a(n academic) village to determine an enzyme's function

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Scientists have sequenced the genomes of nearly 6,900 organisms, but they know the functions of only about half of the protein-coding genes thus far discovered. Now a multidisciplinary effort involving 15 scientists from three institutions has begun chipping away at this mystery -- in a big way. Their work to identify the function of one bacterial protein and the biochemical pathway in which it operates will also help identify the functions of hundreds of other proteins.

How 'bad' cholesterol causes atherosclerosis in humans: Stem cells play a key role

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Translational researchers are developing a richer understanding of atherosclerosis in humans, revealing a key role for stem cells that promote inflammation.

Explaination for increased asthma severity in children exposed to diesel exhaust from traffic

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

A new study shows that exposure to diesel exhaust particles from traffic pollution leads to increased asthma severity in children. Moreover, the study finds that this is due to increased blood levels of IL-17A, a protein associated with several chronic inflammatory diseases, in children with high diesel exposure.

A fast fish with a huge impact

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Globalization is breaking down barriers -- also for plants and animals on the lookout for new homes. Rivers are also changing, in particular through the introduction of non-native species, often brought in by passing ships. In the Danube River, scientists have been observing a fish species conquering a new habitat and creating a totally new ecosystem in the process.

Rising rates of severe and fatal sepsis during labor and delivery

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Rates of severe sepsis and deaths from sepsis among US women hospitalized for delivery have risen sharply over the last decade.

Eagle vs. deer: Camera trap shows golden eagle capturing sika deer

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

A camera trap set out for endangered Siberian (Amur) tigers in the Russian Far East photographed something far more rare: a golden eagle capturing a young sika deer.

Preventing malaria in travelers to West Africa reduces health costs

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Not only do US travelers to West Africa who consult health providers before they leave and take prescribed preventive medications substantially reduce their risk of contracting malaria, they also reduce costs to their health insurance providers and, in most cases, to themselves.

Optical properties of a novel kind of magnetism probed

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Using low-frequency laser pulses, a team of researchers has carried out the first measurements that reveal the detailed characteristics of a unique kind of magnetism found in a mineral called herbertsmithite. In this material, the magnetic elements constantly fluctuate, leading to an exotic state of fluid magnetism called a "quantum spin liquid." This is in contrast to conventional magnetism, found in materials called ferromagnets -- where all of the magnetic forces align in the same direction, reinforcing each other -- or antiferromagnets, where adjacent magnetic elements align in opposite directions, leading to complete cancellation of the material's overall magnetic field.

Appropriate vaccinations schedules for feline patients outlined

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

New guidelines have been issued on vaccination schedules for feline patients based on risk assessment.

Chasing the 'black holes' of the ocean

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Some of the largest ocean eddies on Earth are mathematically equivalent to the mysterious black holes of space. These eddies are so tightly shielded by circular water paths that nothing caught up in them escapes. The mild winters experienced in Northern Europe are thanks to the Gulf Stream, which makes up part of those ocean currents spanning the globe that impact on the climate. However, our climate is also influenced by huge eddies of over 150 kilometres in diameter that rotate and drift across the ocean. Their number is reportedly on the rise in the Southern Ocean, increasing the northward transport of warm and salty water. Intriguingly, this could moderate the negative impact of melting sea ice in a warming climate.

Public says childhood cancer should be top children's health research priority

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 08:40 AM PDT

Adults across the U.S. rate childhood cancer as their top priority for research into improving children's health, according to a new poll.

Research uncovers gene's contribution to asthma susceptibility

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT

New research has uncovered the role gene ORMDL3 plays in the disease asthma. ORMDL3, a gene recently linked to asthma susceptibility, has now been linked to the body's ability to recruit inflammatory cells during an airway allergic reaction.

Smartphones, tablets could provide universal access to medical monitoring

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT

Do you have a smartphone in your pocket or purse? If so, you may be carrying the future of mobile medical monitoring technology, according to a new report.

How bacteria integrate autotransporters into their outer membrane

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT

The bacterial outer envelope is densely packed with proteins that form small pores and facilitate the passage of nutrients, toxins and signaling molecules. Researchers now demonstrate how these transporter proteins are integrated into the outer membrane.

Dengue fever, chikungunya: A potential vector discovered in Mayotte

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT

Stegomyia pia indeed has the potential to transmit serious viral diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya, which are rampant in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. The species is known for transmitting infections through their bite. As the inventory was mainly based on aquatic larvae stages outside of the epidemic period, the scientists were not able to capture Stegomyia pia carrying one of these viruses in order to demonstrate its vector capacity, but grave suspicions surround this new species.

First steps towards achieving better and cheaper biodiesel

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT

Is there any connection between wine and biodiesel? The answer is yes, however surprising it may seem. Acetals are chemical compounds found in many wines, like port, for example, which give it a unique, sweet smell. However if acetals are blended with biodiesel, they improve its properties.

Walnuts in diet can improve endothelial functions for overweight adults

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT

Medical researchers have found evidence suggestive that adding walnuts to one's diet can protect against diabetes and heart disease in at-risk individuals.